The new Waratahs coach has spent the year as an assistant coach for the premiership-winning Sydney Roosters, before a World Cup campaign with Lebanon.
The Cedars finished the tournament on Sunday with a chaotic 24-20 golden-point win over France, sending Cheika off from the 13-man code in style.
"I'll be back at some stage," the former Wallabies coach promised.
"I've had such a great experience, starting off at Roosters the first time in 2020 when I had a chance to be there.
"Then with the Lebanese team in 2022 was awesome, and Roosters again last year."
Returning to a head coaching role in Super Rugby after a year as a second-in-charge, Cheika believes that heading up the Lebanon team has prepared him well for that transition.
"It's helped me get my head-coach legs back," said the 59-year-old.
"I've had to be an assistant for the last year, which has been really interesting for me. New, but a great experience with some great people."
The dual-code coach led Lebanon to the quarter-finals at the 2022 World Cup, but bowed out before the knockout phase of this smaller tournament.
Despite a "pretty average" performance, Cheika is incredibly proud of his team for the courage showed to get their lone win of the competition, especially since he doesn't see a future leading Lebanon.
"I doubt very much that I'll go again with Lebs so it was just such a beautiful way to remember the group and be connected to these guys forever," he said.
"This team here has been a special time for me, in particular."
"We weren't great from a footy perspective, but we chased some things when we needed to, some possibly lost causes."
14°C